To truly thrive, I need a perfect spot to call home. Please plant me where I can bask in full sun for at least six hours a day; this fuels my magnificent blooms. I can tolerate partial shade, but my flower show will be less spectacular. My roots are fussy about their feet—they demand exceptionally well-draining soil. Heavy, clay-rich soil that stays wet will cause my roots to rot, a death sentence for me. A slightly acidic to neutral pH is perfect. If your native soil is poor, plant me in a raised bed or a mound amended with compost. Also, offer me a sturdy trellis, fence, or arbor to cling to at planting time. I am a passionate climber and need support to reach my full, glorious potential.
My watering needs change as I grow. After you first plant me, I need consistent moisture to help my roots get established. Once I’m settled, I am moderately drought-tolerant, but I will reward you with more vigorous growth and flowering if you provide me with about one inch of water per week, especially during dry spells. The key is deep, infrequent watering that encourages my roots to grow downward. As for food, I am not a heavy feeder. A balanced, slow-release fertilizer applied in early spring as I break dormancy is usually sufficient. Too much nitrogen, however, will encourage an abundance of leaves at the expense of my beautiful flowers, so please avoid over-fertilizing.
Understanding my growth cycle is key to our long-term relationship. In warmer zones (7-11), I may be evergreen, but in colder regions, I will die back to the ground in winter. Do not be alarmed! This is my time to rest. In late winter or very early spring, before new growth emerges, it is time to prune me. Pruning helps control my size and encourages bushier, more floriferous growth. You can cut my stems back to about 1-2 feet from the base. In zones 6 and colder, a thick layer of mulch over my root zone after the ground freezes will protect me from harsh temperature swings.
I am generally resilient when planted correctly, but I can sometimes attract aphids or spider mites. A strong spray of water from your hose is often enough to dislodge these pests. My main weakness is root rot from soggy soil, so proper drainage is my best medicine. If you wish to share my beauty, you can propagate me easily. The most successful method is taking softwood cuttings in spring or early summer. Simply take a 6-inch cutting from new growth, remove the lower leaves, dip the end in rooting hormone, and plant it in a pot with moist, soilless mix. Keep it warm and humid, and soon a new plant will form.
